OREANDA-NEWS. On October 30, 2007 Kazinvestbank JSC (Almaty), securities of which are traded in Kazakhstan stock exchange's (KASE) category "A" official list, provided KASE with the text of message from Moody's agency in English language with next contention, reported the press-centre of KASE:

Moody's assigns B2/NP/E+ ratings to KazInvestBank (Kazakhstan)

First-time ratings

Moody's Investors Service assigned the following global scale ratings to KazInvestBank ("KIB"): B2 long-term and Not-Prime short-term foreign and local currency deposit ratings and an E+ bank financial strength rating ("BFSR"). All of the bank's ratings carry a stable outlook.

According to Moody's KIB's E+ BFSR, which translates to a Baseline Credit Assessment of B2, is based on the bank's fundamental credit strength, which, in Moody's view, is underpinned by its strong corporate governance, risk management and capitalisation, but constrained by its limited franchise, significant borrower and depositor concentrations.

The bank's B2 local and foreign currency deposit ratings do not factor in any expectation of systemic support in the event of a stress situation, given the bank's very low national market share and relative importance to the country's banking system. Although support from the bank's shareholders cannot be ruled out, its extent and timeliness are somewhat uncertain. Consequently the long-term deposit ratings are at the same level as the bank's B2 Baseline Credit Assessment.

The bank is majority-owned by a group of Kazakh entrepreneurs (none of which individually holds a controlling or a blocking stake), who jointly own 56,7% of the bank's capital, whereas EBRD and CVCI (a private equity fund owned by Citibank) hold 21,5% of the bank's capital each. KIB has targeted the corporate, SME and retail lending markets and is in the process of expanding its distribution network.

In Moody's view, KIB's ratings could be upgraded if it succeeds in improving its franchise, as well as materially reducing the level of borrower concentration, while maintaining reasonable capitalisation and asset quality.

Conversely, downward rating pressure could arise from a failure to reduce the level of borrower concentration or in the event of a material deterioration in asset quality.

Based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, KazInvestBank reported total audited IFRS consolidated assets and net income of US$199 million and US$0,9 million, respectively, at year-end 2006 (US$106 million and US$0,3 million, respectively, a year before).